Cabinet meeting to be held in Maheshwar – CM Dr. Yadav

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that Cabinet meeting will be held at Maheshwar in honnour of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar on her 300th birth centenary year. A seat of learning will be established at Devi Ahilyabai University, Indore for conducting research on Devi Ahilya Bai’s justice, delivery system, innovative governance, public welfare, and her personality. A campaign will be launched to collect historical material related to Devi Ahilya Bai. The Madhya Pradesh Police Battalion will be named after Devi Ahilyabai. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav also gave instructions to name battalions after great personalities.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav was addressing the meeting of the organizing committee formed to celebrate 300th birth centenary of Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, at Sushasan Bhawan here today. Deputy Chief Minister Shri Jagdish Deora, Urban Development and Housing Minister Shri Kailash Vijayvargiya, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Prahlad Patel, Transport and School Education Minister Shri Uday Pratap Singh, Chief Secretary Smt. Veera Rana and officials of various departments were present.

Encouraging remarriage of widows, Khasgi Pratha, and involving women in Maheshwari saree weaving are women’s empowerment initiatives

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai constructed temples, ghats, wells, and step-wells in famous pilgrimage and religious places outside her state and also managed the Anna Kshetra. Her rule was known for justice. Her women’s empowerment initiatives are still relevant. Her noble deeds are inspiring people. The promotion of widow remarriage and the Khasgi system are examples of empowerment of women. By involving local women in weaving Maheshwari sarees, she paved the way for the economic self-reliance of women. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav said that along with celebration of 300th birth centenary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, various dimensions of her personality should be informed to the youngsters. Information on Devi Ahilyabai Holkar should be disseminated in schools, colleges, and public places as well as through various media.

Suggestions for birth centenary year

Suggestions were received on dedicating the upcoming Republic Day programme to Lokmata Devi Ahilyabai, identifying women leadership at the rural level and honoring them after Devi Ahilyabai at the Panchayat level, translating the existing administrative and literature in the Modhi script of Devi Ahilya in Hindi and English, publishing a souvenir on her, conducting academic activities focused on Devi Ahilya at school and college level, incorporating lessons on her personality and work in the curriculum, starting a period of self-defense for girl students in schools and preparing a grand theatrical presentation.